Kendra Harris and Jason Harris v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Child

Cite as 2021 Ark. App. 158
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
Elizabeth Perry
I attest to the accuracy and DIVISION II
integrity of this document No. CV-20-706
2023.06.26 12:53:38 -05'00'
2023.001.20174
Opinion Delivered: April 7, 2021

KENDRA HARRIS AND JASON
HARRIS APPEAL FROM THE SEBASTIAN
APPELLANTS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, FORT
SMITH DISTRICT
V. [NO. 66FJV-19-192 ]

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HONORABLE SHANNON BLATT,
HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR JUDGE
CHILD
APPELLEES AFFIRMED

MIKE MURPHY, Judge

Kendra and Jason Harris appeal the order of the Sebastian County Circuit Court

terminating their parental rights to their son, JH. On appeal, they argue that the termination

was not in JH’s best interest. We affirm.

On May 8, 2019, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) exercised

emergency custody of JH and CW (then ages five and seventeen, respectively) due to

Kendra’s and Jason’s drug use. The children were later adjudicated dependent-neglected,

and the parents were provided services by DHS. Thereafter, custody of CW was placed

with his grandfather, who had guardianship of him, and the case was closed as it pertained

to CW. JH remained in DHS care as the case progressed. In October 2019, the Cherokee

Nation intervened because of JH’s membership with the tribe. Over the course of the next

year, the parents never improved their conditions to a point that DHS or the court

considered them safe placements for JH, and on July 2, 2020, DHS filed a petition to
terminate Kendra’s and Jason’s parental rights to JH.

At the termination hearing on August 10, there was testimony that JH had been in

DHS custody for over fifteen months, both parents were testing positive for drugs as recently

as May 2020 for Jason and July 2020 for Kendra, Jason had unresolved legal issues, and

neither parent had verifiable income. At the conclusion of the hearing, the circuit court

terminated Jason’s and Kendra’s parental rights to JH on the grounds of failure to remedy,1

subsequent factors, 2 and aggravated circumstances. 3 It found that it was in JH’s best interest

to terminate the parents’ rights after considering JH’s adoptability and the potential harm he

would suffer if he were returned to their custody. Further, based on the testimony of an

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) expert witness, the circuit court found that DHS had

made reasonable and active efforts in the case and that JH could suffer serious emotional or

physical damage if returned to the parents’ custody. Kendra and Jason timely appealed this

decision. 4

We review termination-of-parental-rights cases de novo. Hune v. Ark. Dep’t of

Human Servs., 2010 Ark. App. 543. At least one statutory ground must exist, in addition to

a finding that it is in the child’s best interest to terminate parental rights. Ark. Code Ann.

§ 9-27-341; Kohlman v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2018 Ark. App. 164, 544 S.W.3d 595.

1
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B)(i)(a) (Repl. 2020).
2
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B)(vii).
3
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B)(ix)(a)(3)(A)–(B)(i).
4
The parents submitted separate briefs; however, the issues argued are similar enough
that they may be adequately addressed together in this opinion.

2
A best-interest finding under the Arkansas Juvenile Code must include consideration of two

factors: the likelihood of adoption and potential harm to the child if returned to the parents’

custody. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A)(i) & (ii). Potential harm must be viewed in a

forward-looking manner and in broad terms, including the harm the child suffers from the

lack of stability of a permanent home. Wallace v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2015 Ark. App.

481, at 12, 470 S.W.3d 286, 293.

According to the ICWA, the party seeking to terminate parental rights shall satisfy

the circuit court that active efforts have been made to provide remedial services and

rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that these

efforts have proved unsuccessful. 25 U.S.C. § 1912(d). Moreover, no termination of parental

rights may be ordered in such a proceeding in the absence of a determination, supported by

evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of qualified expert witnesses, that

the continued custody of the child by the parent is likely to result in serious emotional or

physical damage to the child. 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f). Despite this heightened standard in the

circuit court, our court’s review is still de novo, and we will not reverse the circuit court’s

ruling unless its findings are clearly erroneous. Holmes v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2016

Ark. App. 495, 505 S.W.3d 730. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is

evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with a definite and

firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Sharks v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2016

Ark. App. 435, 502 S.W.3d 569. In determining whether a finding is clearly erroneous, an

appellate court gives due deference to the opportunity of the circuit court to judge the

credibility of witnesses. Bryant v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2018 Ark. App. 375, 554

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S.W.3d 295.

Jason and Kendra do not challenge the statutory grounds the circuit court relied on

to terminate their parental rights; therefore, any challenge relating to the statutory grounds

is waived. Benedict v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 96 Ark. App. 395, 409, 242 S.W.3d 305,

316–17 (2006). Nor do they assert that the circuit court clearly erred in finding that

continued custody of JH by either parent is likely to result in serious emotional or physical

damage to JH. 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f). Instead, the only argument on appeal both parents make

is that the circuit court erred when it found that termination of their parental rights was in

JH’s best interest because it did not consider the effect the termination would have on his

relationship with his siblings.

To support their argument, the parents cite Caldwell v. Arkansas Department of Human

Services, 2010 Ark. App. 102, and Clark v. Arkansas Department of Human Services, 2016 Ark.

App. 286, 493 S.W.3d 782, for the proposition that a factor a circuit court must consider in

making a best-interest determination is the effect on the familial and sibling relationship,

and failing to do so is reversible error. We do not read these cases to support that assertion.

In fact, this court has held that sibling relationships do not dictate the outcome of

termination decisions, especially when there is little to no evidence of a sibling bond. See,

e.g., Brown v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2019 Ark. App. 370, at 10–12, 584 S.W.3d 276,

282–83 (“Keeping siblings together is an important consideration but is not outcome

determinative, as the best interest of each child is the polestar consideration . . . . Much

more evidence of a genuine sibling bond is required to reverse a best-interest finding based

on the severance of a sibling relationship.”). Here, both parents concede that there was no

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testimony presented at the termination hearing involving the sibling relationships.

As mentioned above, a best-interest analysis requires a circuit court to consider two

things: the child’s adoptability and the potential harm of returning the child to the parents’

custody. The parents do not disagree that JH is adoptable. As for potential harm, that analysis

is forward-looking and involves a circuit court’s viewing the case as a whole and how the

parents have discharged their parental duties, the substantial risk of serious harm the parents

impose, and whether they are unfit. Weatherspoon v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark.

App. 104, at 9, 426 S.W.3d 520, 526. Additionally, failure to comply with court orders and

the factual findings from the statutory grounds may support a potential-harm finding. Black

v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2018 Ark. App. 518, at 8–9, 565 S.W.3d 518, 524.

Here, the parents do not dispute that grounds existed to support the termination of

their parental rights. By the time of the hearing, JH had been in DHS custody for over

fifteen months, yet despite services, they both tested positive for drugs in the two months

leading up to the termination hearing. A court may consider past behavior as a predictor of

likely potential harm should the child be returned to the parent’s care and custody, and

continued drug use itself is sufficient to support a circuit court’s finding of potential harm.

Furnish v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2017 Ark. App. 511, at 13, 529 S.W.3d 684, 692.

After a de novo review, we hold that it was not clearly erroneous for the circuit court to

find that termination of Jason’s and Kendra’s parental rights was in JH’s best interest.

Affirmed.

KLAPPENBACH and GRUBER, JJ., agree.

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Jennifer Oyler Olson, Arkansas Commission for Parent Counsel, for separate appellant

Kendra Harris.

Brett D. Watson, Attorney at Law, PLLC, by: Brett D. Watson, for separate appellant

Jason Harris.

Ellen K. Howard, Ark. Dep’t of Human Services, Office of Chief Counsel, for

appellee.

Dana McClain, attorney ad litem for minor child, joins brief filed on behalf of appellee

Arkansas Department of Human Services.

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